In Women in the Biblical World: Old Testament, Dr. Mark Chavalas provides a historical and archaeological survey of the status of women in the biblical world, considering Old Testament views on women alongside those of the larger ancient Near Eastern context. Beginning from the advent of the nation of Israel, he covers various cultures from the time period, including Mesopotamia, Egypt, Hittite Anatolia, and Iran, exploring primary texts that inform our understanding of the roles of women in the ancient Near East and the Old Testament.

Contents:

Introduction

• Introducing the Course and the Speaker

• Reasons for the Course

Unit 1: Prehistoric Women, Ur-Nammu and Old Babylonian Laws

• Prehistoric Figurines and Herodotus’ Writings

• Women and the Agricultural Revolution

• Israelite Connections with Mesopotamia

• Overview of Mesopotamian Law Codes

• Cuneiform Tablets and Nature of Ancient Law Codes

• Introduction to Ur-Nammu Code

• Ur-Nammu Code: Slavery and Marriage

• Ur-Nammu Code: Slavery and the Bible

• Ur-Nammu Code: Betrothal and Marriage

• Ur-Nammu Code: Sexuality

• Ur-Nammu Code: Divorce

• Old Babylonian Code: Marriage Contracts

• Old Babylonian Code: Dissolution of Marriage

• Old Babylonian Code: Polygamous Marriage; Care of Mother

• Old Babylonian Code: Caught in Adultery

• Ur-Nammu Code: River Ordeal, Part 1

• Ur-Nammu Code: River Ordeal, Part 2

• Ur-Nammu Code: Defrauding a Marriage Agreement

Unit 2: Lipit-Eshtar and Eshnunna Codes

• Lipit-Eshtar Law B and Numbers 27

• Inheritance Protection

• Lipit-Eshtar Code: Inheritance and Marriage Arrangement

• Lipit-Eshtar Code: Inheritance and Multiple Wives

• Lipit-Eshtar Code: Marriage and Virginity

• Eshnunna Code and Employed Women

• Eshnunna Code: Penalties for Causing Death

• Eshnunna Code: Marriage

• Eshnunna Code: Childrearing

Unit 3: Hammurabi Code

• The Universe and Magic

• Display of a Criminal and Matthew 27:37

• Taverns, Harboring Criminals, and Rahab

• Debt Repayment; False Accusation

• Adultery and Rape

• Adultery Trial by Ordeal in Numbers 5:11–31: Husband’s Accusation

• Adultery Trial by Ordeal in Numbers 5:11–31: Wife’s Ordeal

• Miscellaneous Laws

• Miscellaneous Laws (Continued)

• Killing a Spouse

• Family Sexual Taboos and Naditu Inheritance

• Naditu Mari Letters

• Nin-shata-pada’s Letter to King Rim-Sin: Beginning with Flattery

• Nin-shata-pada’s Letter to King Rim-Sin: Ending with Suffering

• Punishment According to the Social Class of the Victim

Unit 4: Middle Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian, and Hittite Codes

• Middle Assyrian Code; Temple Theft

• Disgraceful Speech and Bodily Harm

• Rape, Adultery, and False Accusations

• Homosexuality and Leviticus

• Restricting Women’s Activities

• Middle Assyrian Palace Decrees

• Neo-Babylonian Law Decrees

• Hittite Code: Consequences for Injuring Individuals

• Hittite Code: Disposition of Property and Children after Divorce

Unit 5: Women in Ancient Letters

• Old Assyrian Letters: Lamassī

• Old Assyrian Letters: Tarām-Kūbi

• Old Assyrian Letters: Tarīš-mātum and Others

• Old Assyrian Letters: Ištar-nādā

• Old Babylonian Letters from Tell al-Rimah: Ris-Adad; Amat-Samas

• Old Babylonian Letters from Tell al-Rimah: Queen Iltani

• Mari Letter to Zimri-Lim: Kiru Complains

• Mari Letters to Zimri-Lim: Kiru Complains, Cautions from and about Simatum

• Mari Letter Warning Zimri-Lim from His Sister, Inib-sina

• Mari Letters Warning Zimri-Lim from His Wife Shibtu and an Official

• Letters from Sippar

• Neo-Assyrian Letters: Importance of the Queen Mother

• Neo-Assyrian Letters: Importance of Rituals

• Neo-Assyrian Letters: The King Must Confirm Orders from the Gods

Unit 6: Women in Ancient Mesopotamian Medicine

• Introduction to Ancient Mesopotamian Medicine

• Ardat Lili Demoness: Cause of Disease

• Ardat Lili Demoness: Dealing with Demons and Disease

• Incantation to Drive Away Ardat Lili

• Lamashtu Demoness: A Ritual to Drive Her Away

• Lamashtu Demoness: Another Ritual to Drive Her Away

• Seduction Charms

• Postpartum Issues

• Pregnancy and Miscarriages

• Difficult Births

Unit 7: Eve and Adam

• Introduction to Women in the Old Testament

• Introduction to Genesis 1:1

• Human Creation Story: Image and Likeness of God

• Human Creation Story: Humanity’s Purpose

• Creation of the Male

• Creation of the Female

• Adam’s Helper and Rib

• Trouble in Paradise: Genesis 3

• Adam and Eve’s Response

• The Plight of the Woman

• The Plight of the Man

Unit 8: Sarah and Abraham

• Introduction to Abraham

• Abraham Loses a Wife and Gains a Sister

• Abraham’s Ignorance of God’s Plan

• Sarah and Hagar

• Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre

• Lot’s Visitors

• Anti-Hospitality and the Daughters of Lot

Unit 9: Leah, Rachel, Dinah and Tamar

• Leah and Rachel, Daughters of Laban

• Blended Family Tensions

• Dinah and the Massacre at Shechem

• Judah and Tamar

• Refusal of Levirate Marriage

• Genesis 38 in Light of Deuteronomy 25

• Reflections on Tamar and Matthew 1 Genealogy

Unit 10: Hebrew Law

• Introduction to Hebrew Law; Exodus 21

• Impurity and Menstrual Discharge

• Uncovering Nakedness of Relatives

• Homoerotic Behavior and Bestiality

• Divorce for Indecency

• Fraud through Remarriage; Early Marriage Conscription Deferment

Unit 11: Women in Judges

• Introduction to Women in Judges

• Deborah Prophesies to Barak

• Deborah: Jael and Sisera

• The Song of Deborah and Barak

• Abimelech Killed by a Noncombatant Woman

• Jephthah and His Daughter: A Rash Vow

• Jephthah and His Daughter: The Unnamed Hero

• Jephthah and His Daughter: The Purpose of the Story

• A Levite and His Concubine: Her Departure and Retrieval

• A Levite and His Concubine: Journey to Gibeah

• A Levite and His Concubine: A Grisly End

• A Levite and His Concubine: The Purpose of the Story

Conclusion

• Opening up the Old Testament World

Details

• Title: Women in the Biblical World Bundle

• Instructor: Mark Chavalas

• Publisher: Lexham Press

• Publication Date: 2016

• Product Type: Logos Mobile Education

• Resource Type: Courseware, including transcripts, audio, and video resources

• Courses: 2

• Video Hours: 25